Angela Liu
Twenty-Seven Years with Melchers: Turning Commitment into Passion
When I first walked through the doors of Melchers Guangzhou in 1998, I never imagined that this single step would begin a twenty-seven-year journey with the company. I still remember that first day clearly: the office wasn’t large, but it was tidy and well-organized. Colleagues were busy at their desks, yet never failed to offer a warm greeting. The admin and finance teams were lean, but everyone was highly capable and self-sufficient. Our boss worked right alongside us as part of the team on every project, without any airs. “Small yet specialized”—that was my first impression of Melchers, and it felt solid and reassuring.
Now, twenty-seven years later, the company has transformed. The most obvious change is that it has grown from “small but specialized” to “large and dynamic.”Our business footprint has expanded significantly, evolving from just a few lines of business into diverse areas like industrial goods, consumer goods, and healthcare. Our management systems have also become more structured and professional. What comforts me, though, is that the company has never lost its core spirit: that sharp awareness of market changes, the constant drive for innovation, and the genuine warmth between people. Seeing new colleagues join us and watching the company progress step by step fills me with pride.
What has sustained me over these twenty-seven years was not some grand ambition, but the deep bonds that feel like family. Over the years, my colleagues have transformed from unfamiliar coworkers into my closest kin. We’ve shared life’s milestones together: some went from young and single to walking down the aisle, some experienced the happy chaos of their first days as parents, and some watched their kids grow from babbling toddlers to college students. There were no earth-shaking events, but warmth always hid in the little details. Coming to work now feels more like “coming home”—a place where we collaborate and handle business together. This sense of steadiness and belonging is something I couldn’t find anywhere else. Over these twenty-seven years, I’ve grown with the company, from a newcomer to a senior colleague, and Melchers has accompanied me through most of my life’s journey, becoming an indispensable part of it.
As the company celebrates its 160th anniversary in China, we’re about to say goodbye to the office building that witnessed my youth and growth. Looking at the smiling faces of my colleagues, both old and new, my heart is full of hope. Next year, our Guangzhou office will move to a new location. I want to continue being by its side, watching it advance with even greater strength and stability. I also want to pass on the warmth and dedication cultivated over these twenty-seven years to more newcomers.
For me, these twenty-seven years haven’t just been about “perseverance”, but rather a warm “shared journey”. When work truly integrates with life, and the company feels like home—that, perhaps, is the happiest form of a career one can have.
